Verge finisher



n-30. 1968 G. L. was 3,366,081

' VERGE FINISHER Filed May 20, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORI M A/7M A. dvE/JS ByF g 'L 5 A'ttorneyg 5 Sheets-Sheet 5' Filed May 20', 1966 -|NVENTOR1 @UEA fE/f A 0555 AttorneyS 11.30, 1968 G. L.-GEISS 3,366,081

VERGE' FINISHER Filegi may 20, 1965 5 sheets-sheet Fig.6."

Q IN VEN fOR: B flaw/Tm LflE/if Attorney;

Jan. 30, 1968 e. 1.. GEISS 3,366,031

VERGE FINISHER Filed May 20, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 2a 1-9 (1 2b I 3 INVENTOR M Hm Attorney 5 United States Patent 6 Claims. cl. 111-1 The invention concerns a verge finisher by means of which new road verges may be produced, wherein spreading of the top-soil heaped on the verge substructure, levelling, seeding, rolling to the exact completed height and cutting the exact crown edge is effected in one operation.

The start of the operation is that of a completed roadway with covering and a roughly pre-levelled covering for the banks with humus and top-soil piled on the verge substructure in slight excess quantity which in the course of covering the banks with humus has either been pushed on to the verge surface or brought by lorry and off-loaded.

The method of operation hitherto used proceeds from the same original state. The only operation which is sometimes mechanically performed is the rough distribution of the humus masses. For this purpose a grader with a laterally extended central plate is usable; it is also known to use two combined levelling plates, the front one of which draws the soil to the roadway and the rear plate pushes the material off the roadway. This mechanical operation is, however, unsatisfactory; the plate drawing inwardly engages an excessive quantity of humus and the relatively small deflecting plates are flooded with humus, which then drops with a harmful effect on to the new covering and has to be swept off again with a considerable amount of manual effort. The plate pushing outwardly (or the second operation in standard single plate graders) is overloaded by the excessive quantity of soil drawn inwardly, and the operation has to be repeated several times. Since the plate or plates are supported only on one side, or else mounted displaceably and so have no rigid guidance, they are usable exclusively for distribution, with the described disadvantages, for which reason the spreading is in most cases carried out manually.

The following individual jobs are necessary for producing the verges: driving in locating pegs with accurate clearance from the roadway edge, applying the completed levels, marking with lines and accurately levelling the areas between the line and roadway edge; spreading grass and/or clover seed over the section and sowing, in two separate operations, raking the seeds in, firming or transversely rolling with a hand roller, cutting the crown edge accurately to the bank slope and finally removing the pegs and line.

Machine levelling with known apparatus is generally dispensed with, since it requires also marking the crown edge with a line; the line and pegs are liable to be ripped out during mechanical levelling and then have to be put in again for accurately cutting the crown edge. Damage may thereby be caused to the final levelling which has then to be repeated.

Other individual operations such as seeding and rolling to be carried out, known apparatus would then involve conversion of the machine, involving extra operations, so that the necessary expenditure offsets the gain obtained, for which reason complete manual operation is still generally used.

Sometimes the elaborate operation of raking and rolling or firming is omitted. This usually results in additional work several times a year involving re-seeding and remulching, since in such instances the seeds are blown away, and due to the absence of surface protection, the humus is washed away at many points.

An object of the invention is an apparatus permitting all the above individual operations to be carried out mechanically in one operation. The following problems are dealt with by the apparatus:

It must spread the irregular heap of humus evenly over the whole width of the verge and push any excess outwardly beyond the crown edge without any humus particles getting on to the new roadway covering;

It must produce an accurately levelled surface which retains the necessary level dilference and transverse incline constantly, during one operational stroke, relative to the roadway covering;

It must cut the crown edge so as to maintain constant both the adjusted spacing relative to the roadway edge and the adjusted bank incline;

It must spread grass and clover seed of the required amount and spaced uniformly over the verge surface, rake in the seed and finally, must seal the surface and, independently of the roller weight and ground resistance, compact it to a constant completed level and incline.

These problems are solved by the feature that the apparatus has a leading plate drawing in the direction of the roadway and behind it a levelling plate pushing away from the roadway, on which plate a deflecting plate is provided at the roadway end. These plates are incorporated in a frame so that they form a rigid structure, which is adapted to be mounted as a whole on a vehicle and form a torsion-resistant structural unit. The suspension is so fashioned that the inclination of the transverse axis of the apparatus block and the line of the vehicle are adjustable relative to one another by variable intermediate members, so that the required transverse inclination of the completed verge surface is accurately formed relative to the roadway surface.

The leading plate is mounted on a higher level relative to the levelling plate, whereby unnecessary earth movement is eliminated and the loading of the plates minimised. The deflecting plate extends from the levelling plate forwardly beyond the whole inner surface of the frame.

The edge plate, adjustable in transverse inclination, is arranged behind the levelling plate on the finisher end. It is clamped on a support which in turn is mounted so as to be transversely displaceable on the frame end, so that any width of verge may be called for, this width remaining constant during an operation. A level pole secured on the inside surface of the frame and located in the field of vision of the driver, permits him to maintain the direction of the vehicle accurately with respect to the roadway edge. The length of the leading and the levelling plates is of course so dimensioned that the width of the levelled strip is greater than the maximum verge width of conventional road profiles.

The structure is supported on two rollers, i.e., a running roller which is so mounted in the front region of the frame that it is in rolling engagement with the roadway, and a smooth roller which is mounted rigidly in the frame behind the levelling plate. The smooth roller is adjusted to the completed verge height, whilst the levelling plate is mounted on a higher level determined by the amount of tamping required, so that the surface behind the smooth roller is compacted and the surface firmed at a constant level and inclination relative to the roadway.

Between the levelling plate and the smooth roller a Sowing device is incorporated which is expediently provided with two seed dispensers arranged in series, e.g., for grass and for clover seed, the mixing of which is known to have a deleterious effect. Directly behind the seed dispenser a bar with harrow spikes is arranged which harrows the seed into the soil before the surface is rolled.

The conventionally used steel seed feeding rollers may be replaced by brush rollers, which prevent damage to the seed.

A heavy lorry is preferably used to carry the structure, the chassis of which is equipped with rigid insert shoes. When the structure is to be used, it is located in the shoes and secured, whereupon the required transverse inclination and verge width are adjusted. By actuating a tiltage mechanism the whole structure may be lifted and conveyed in a raised state without its adjustment being 211-- the same length of verge using a device according to the invention expends 20-40 working hours (apparatus converted into wages), which corresponds to a saving of 90% of the working costs.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view seen from the bank;

FIG. 2 is a side view seen from the roadway;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line A-A of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line B-B of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the finisher without the sowing device;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section on the line CC of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section on the line DD of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section on the line E-E of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the finisher;

FIG. 10 is a schematic rear view of the finisher mounted on a lorry in working position;

FIG. 11 and FIG. 10 show the structure in the transporting position; and

FIG. 12 is a detailed view of the sowing device.

The side 1a of the frame 11 facing the lorry comprises a tubular latticework with two upper struts 2a. It is slid over the ends of supports 3 each of which is rigidly connected to the device 4 of a lorry. The two lower struts 2b are secured in the centre of the supports and may be longitudinally adjusted. This longitudinal adjustment causes adjustment of the inclination of the finisher, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 10. A connecting rod 5 extending from the platform frame 4 to the end of the finisher stabilises the suspension and takes the bending forces from the struts 2.

The inside surface 1a of the frame supports a leading plate 6 and a levelling plate 7, which are supported and braced with cross-struts 1b. In the region of these plates the side 1a of the frame is faced with a deflecting plate 8. The lower inner edge 6a of the leading plate 6, which is set on a higher level relative to the levelling plate, is recessed to ensure a continuous passage of material. Behind the levelling plate 7 is a sowing device 9 in a box 10, also rigidly mounted in the frame 1, followed by a bar 10a fitted with harrowing spikes 10 and then a smooth roller 11, which is adjusted to the completed height and inclination of the verge.

An edge plate 12 is secured by means of a link 12a on a plate 13 and by means of a slot 13a and a fixing screw 13b passed therethrough, may be adjusted to the required angle of bank. A plate support 13b fits into sleeves 130 by means of which the structure is aisplaceably mounted in a transverse direction on the rear surface of the chassis 1c and which may be adjusted to required verge widths. An edge plate 12 cuts a crown edge out of the verge surface, and simultaneously makes a narrow bank strip which acts as start for the mechanical bank levelling.

The sowing device 9 is divided into two chambers and the usual steel proportioning rollers are replaced by brush rollers 9a, which are mounted on the driving shafts 9b and are replaceable. The bristles (or resilient synthetic resin plates) pick up a constant quantity of grass or clover seed without bruising it. A scraper 9d suspended in the outlet opening removes seeds adhering to the bristles.

Driving shafts 9b are driven via a chain 11 by the smooth roller 11, causing the quantity of seed material dispensed per square metre to remain constant. The amount of seed supplied and the proportioning of both kinds of seed may be separately controlled by means of interchangeable sprockets 14a.

The running roller is mounted on the front frame foot and is in rolling engagement on the roadway. It is so vertically adjusted that the lower edge of the frame or deflecting plate is held suspended with slight clearance above the road surface without touching it, or even causing any damage thereto.

The front upper edge of the inside frame surface 1a is provided with a level rod 15 which extends into the field of vision of the driver and is preferably provided with a bob weight, the tip of the rod pointing in the direction of the roadway edge or other guide line.

I claim:

1. A verge finisher having a leading plate drawing in the direction of a roadway, a levelling plate behind said leading plate and pushing away from the roadway, a deflecting plate beside said leading and levelling plate. a frame rigidly supporting said plates with said leading plate higher than said levelling plate and said deflecting plate extending forwardly in the direction of said roadway, said frame being torsion-resistant and having means for adjustable attachment to a carrying vehicle, and a sowing device located behind said levelling plate.

2. A verge finisher according to claim 1, wherein an edge plate is clamped on a support which is rigidly mounted but laterally displaceable on the rear end of the frame of the vehicle.

3. A verge finisher according to claim 2, wherein a smooth roller is rigidly mounted in the frame behind the levelling plate.

4. A Verge finisher according to claim 3, wherein said sowing device is located between the levelling plate and the smooth roller, with a bar fitted with harrowing spikes behind the sowing device.

5. A verge finisher according to claim 4, wherein the sowing device comprises two seed dispensers separated from one another.

6. A verge finisher according to claim 4, wherein the seed dispenser has a brush roller driven by the smooth roller, which brush roller is slidingly supported against the container walls with the bristles thereof sweeping resiliently over a scraper freely suspended in the outlet opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,729,574 9/1929 Finley 37143 XR 2,475,078 7/ 1949 Cherry 11185 2,594,727 4/1952 Bur ggren 37155 XR 2,659,988 11/1953 Braden et a1 37l05 XR 2,729,157 1/1956 Webb 1l1-85 XR 3,061,956 11/1962 Braden 37155 3,203,120 8/1965 Burton 37-155 3,242,599 3/1966 Iverson 37-155 ROBERT E. BAGWILL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VERGE FINISHER HAVING A LEADING PLATE DRAWING IN THE DIRECTION OF A ROADWAY, A LEVELLING PLATE BEHIND SAID LEADING PLATE AND PUSHING AWAY FROM THE ROADWAY, A DEFLECTING PLAT BESIDE SAID LEADING AND LEVELLING PLATE. A FRAME RIGIDLY SUPPORTING SAID PLATES WITH SAID LEADING PLATE HIGHER THAN SAID LEVELLING PLATE AND SAID DEFLECTING PLATE EXTENDING FORWARDLY IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID ROADWAY, SAID FRAME BEING TORSION-RESISTANT AND HAVING MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLE ATTACHMENT TO A CARRYING VEHICLE, AND A SOWING DEVICE LOCATED BEHIND SAID LEVELLING PLATE. 